Stamped Gift Bags

We try to get our girls involved in giving, especially during the Christmas season – a time when it seems the focus for them (and probably most of us, actually!) is often on getting.

In addition to participating in Operation Christmas Child and other missions during the holidays (which we involve the girls with as well), this year we decided to give gifts to our neighbors. My toddlers and I decorated the paper gift bags using Christmas-themed stamps. They had a lot of fun (and so did I – haha)! We will also deliver all the gifts together. If your kiddos are older, they could get a bit fancier with how they decorate the paper bags. You could also use other stamps to decorate bags for other holidays and special occasions (Thanksgiving, Easter, birthdays, graduations, etc.). The possibilities are endless!

I thought they turned out pretty cute! I found the treat bags, stamps, and ink on Amazon.

“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’” 2 Corinthians 9:7

Brown Paper Wrapping Paper

Wrapping PaperTo a stranger, it might not be the cutest present under the tree, but to a grandma, grandpa, mommy, daddy, aunt, uncle, or other loved one, it’s the cutest one there is. This Christmas, use brown packing paper as wrapping paper and let your little one color all over it! Best wrapping paper ever! Plus, your kiddos have fun ‘helping’ you wrap presents :).

Heck, I think this would make cute wrapping paper even without the doodles! Use a calligraphy pen to write the ‘To’ and ‘From’ right on the paper. You could also add some Bible verses to it. Finish the present off with some twine wrapped around it tied in a cute little bow. Adorable!

What wrapping ideas do you have?

The Reason for the Season…

The Reason for the Season…is Jesus! I thought this would be a fitting time to share the story of the birth of Jesus.

Luke 1: 26-38 New Living Translation (NLT)

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.37 For the word of God will never fail.”

38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.   Continue reading »

Celebrate Jesus

Thanksgiving has passed, and Christmas is upon us. In fact, our Christmas festivities already began last weekend, will continue this weekend, and not end until the week after that.

It’s easy to get caught up in all the hubbub that surrounds this season – decorations, lights, gifts, get-togethers, food…the list is endless. Let’s stop for a minute and remember the TRUE reason for the season – Jesus.

A few weeks ago I was at a craft fair (looking for Christmas gifts, nonetheless), and a wooden plaque that read “Celebrate Jesus” caught my attention. These two words are so simple, yet so profound, aren’t they? They pricked my soul, causing me to stop and think about the upcoming Christmas season.

Celebrate Jesus

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Deck the Halls!

Our Christmas tree has been up since just after Thanksgiving. Last year, my husband had the bright idea (seriously) of storing the tree, fully decorated and intact, in our basement. It took literally 3 minutes for us to ‘trim the tree’ this year – how convenient!

The rest of our house; however, was lacking the Christmas spirit. This weekend, my husband and I finally had time to do a little more decorating. Using sticks I spray painted from our yard, unused treasures in our basement, and some items from Wal-Mart, we decorated our mantel (all while listening to Christmas music). The hubby even helped! He’s such a wonderful husband :).

Though we enjoy Christmas lights, decorations, gifts, and time with family, this is not the TRUE reason for the season. Christmas is the celebration of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior’s birth. Let us not lose our focus – Jesus is the reason for the season!

(You’ll see a window picture frame in the pictures below. Click here to see the post about that project.)DSC00534 Continue reading »